- Court gives state a node in freezing assets worth hundreds of millions over a corruption case involving Ksh 500 million scandal.
- Among frozen assets include flats in Kileleshwa and Ruaka, two plots in Kiambu, a piece of land in Dagorreti and a house in Nairobi.
The State has taken war on corruption taken a notch higher as Assets Recovery Authority freezes properties worth hundreds of millions belonging to Margaret Muthui, a Deputy Director for supply chain management at Kenya Rural Roads Authority and her associates.
According to a case filed by a state lawyer seeking freezing of the properties and bank accounts owned by Margeret and her associates, they are being linked to an embezzlement scheme that looted at least 500 million belonging to KeRRA.
The evidence presented to Justice Wakiaga indicates that within three months, the accused purchased 35 apartments worth 264 million in cash during a period when the government was changing the currency by withdrawing Ksh 1000 notes from circulation in fight against corruption.
According to State Lawyer, Esther Muchiri, the purchase of the units both in Kileleshwa and Ruaka was a move to launder money in short duration to avoid being caught up with the phasing out of the Ksh 1000 old notes.
Those named by the Asset Recovery Unit and whose properties and bank accounts were frozen include Muthui, EstherWagio Njunge, Grace Nyambura Ndiritu, Mercy Nyambura and Cynthia Nyambura.
Light House Trading limited accounts were also frozen for they were listed by the Asset Recovery Authority as a beneficiary of stolen funds.
Apart from just freezing the 35 flats, justice Wakiaga also ordered a halt in either selling or transferring of a house located in Nairobi Colligham Gardens, two plots in Kiambu county, a piece of land located in Dagorreti and 24 residential apartments in Ruaka.
During the court proceedings, the state argued that the accused were unable to explain the source of the money in the bank accounts and that used to purchase properties.
